Container-filling machine

ABSTRACT

A container-filling machine of the gravity or pressure type having control means for automatically starting and stopping the filling operation and which is particularly adapted for filling bottles with liquids subject to foaming. The filling operation consists in first depositing a small amount of liquid into the container at slow speed so as to inhibit foaming; simultaneously lowering the filling nozzle into the container until the nozzle outlet is covered by the initially deposited liquid; and then introducing the liquid at a more rapid rate. Releasing the liquid into the container while the outlet from the nozzle is disposed below the surface of the liquid reduces agitation and turbulence to a minimum and thus prevents the formation of foam. This expedient may also be employed for liquids which do not have a tendency to foam, and in either event affords a faster filling operation than can be obtained by conventional filling procedures.

United States Patent inventor 3,182,691 5/1965 Vergobbi et al. 141/41 X 3,207,189 9/1965 Vergobbi 141/41 X 3,270,784 9/1966 Mistarz 141/2 Primary Examiner- Edward J. Earls Attorney-Roberts, Cushman & Grover ABSTRACT: A container-filling machine of the gravity or pressure type having control means for automatically starting [54] ffg f ggg g and stopping the filling operation and which is particularly a r w ng adapted for filling bottles with liquids subject to foaming. The [52] US. Cl 141/198, filling operation consists in first depositing a small amount of I 141/284, 141/374 liquid into the container at slow speed so as to inhibit foaming; [5l] Int. Cl. B65b 3/26 simultaneously lowering the filling nozzle into the container [50] Field of Search 137/386; until the nozzle outlet is covered by the initially deposited 141/1, 5, l3, 394l,46, 100-102, 104-107, 192, liquid; and then introducing the liquid at a more rapid rate. 198, 250,266,267, 27 9, 24 74 Releasing the liquid into the container while the outlet from the nozzle is disposed below the surface of the liquid reduces 1 References cued agitation and turbulence to a minimum and thus prevents the UNITED STATES PATENTS formation of foam. This expedient may also be employed for 2,745,585 5/1956 Lindars 141/40 liquids which have a tendency foam and in either 2 93 7 9 9 waddington et a] 141/374 X event affords a faster filling operation than can be obtained by conventional filling procedures.

199 201 l 9 96 50 PSI 242 I96 201 95 3'0 256 238 246 197 so as: 254 I08 |9e 6o 220 228 34 I39 248 NON LUB i: 280 2 5 zoPsn 52 122 26s I72 172% H 3I2 5o ESL 56 294 296 56 1 28 e4 28 E 27 27 IS A 71 5} 7 72 i so 3O 3O 76 78 as 76 I8 78 PATENTEU DEC 1 4197! SHEET 3 BF 8 m RS W r WT H m m M w ATTORNEY PATENTEnozcmsm 352699 SHEET a []F 8 ATTORNEY PATENTED DEC l 4197! SHEET 5 OF 8 INVENTOR WIN/0m H. 7' russefle A TTORNE) CONTAINER-FILLING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an automatic container-filling machine of the gravity or pressure feed type and finds particular use in the bottling art wherein the present filling machine may form one of a plurality of machines in a bottling line including bottle-cleaning machines; closure-applying machines; and labeling machines.

The present container-filling machine comprises an improvement in the container-filling machine illustrated and described in the US. Pat. No. 3,182,691, issued May 11, 1965, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. The machine disclosed in that patent operates on a novel principle wherein air at low pressure is conducted through a tube into the container being filled, and when the liquid level reaches a height in the container to block off escape of low pressure air through the end of the tube, a back pressure is built up to actuate pneumatically operated control means to effect discontinuance of the filling operation. In a copending application of William H. Trusselle, Ser. No. 857,593, filed Sept. 12, 1969 comprising a streamlined continuation of now-abandoned application Ser. No. 550,391, filed May 16, I966, and also assigned to the same assignee, an improvement in the control mechanism for the containerfilling machine is disclosed.

Such prior filling machines have proved to be highly successful for filling containers with liquids which do not have a tendency to foam.

SUMMARY operation.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel and improved method of filling containers with foam-producing liquids in a rapid and efficient manner while reducing the formation of foam to a minimum during the filling operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved container-filling machine of the character described having novel structure adapted to handle all types of liquids whether foamy or nonfoamy at a relatively fast rate whereby to provide a rapid and efficient filling operation.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the containerfilling machine and in the method of filling containers as hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of the specification In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. I is a vertical cross-sectional view of a container-filling machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section of the pneumatic control unit shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the diaphragm mounting in the control unit;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the air lines and the valve elements comprising the control unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section through a variable flow unit embodied in the control unit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of a filling head and its associated pneumatic control unit;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detail view of the liquid nozzle at a larger scale;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation, partly in cross section, of the filling head and its associated pneumatic control unit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a safety latch mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of the safety latch mechanism shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an elevation of a level control cam track and adjustment therefor;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the pneumatic control unit shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1l0ll0 of FIG. 13.

Referring now to the drawings, only those portions of the container-filling machine which are necessary to an understanding of the present invention have been herein illustrated and described, reference being made to US. Pat. No. 3,182,691 for a more complete description thereof. In general, the present invention is embodied in a rotary filling machine wherein a plurality of supporting platforms 12 (FIG. 11) are mounted to move in a circular path and to which successive bottles M to be filled are transferred by a transfer spider 13 from an intake conveyor 1.5 (FIG. 12). During the continuous rotation in a circular path the platforms 12 are arranged to be elevated to present the bottles in operative relation to their respective filling heads indicated generally at 16 (FIG. 6), the filling nozzles 18 thereof extending into the mouths of the bottles as shown in FIG. 1. Upon completion of the filling operation, the elevating platforms 12 are again lowered to a transfer level, and the filled bottles are transferred by a discharge spider 19 (FIG. 12) onto a discharge conveyor 21 to be delivered from the machine.

The filling head units 16 are carried by and rotatable with a rotary supporting disc 50, and each filling head unit has associated therewith a pneumatic control unit indicated generally at 52 (FIG. 8) supported above its filling head. Each control unit 52 is supported by an. individual bracket 56 secured to and extending from the rotary supporting disc 50 as shown in FIG. 1. Each control unit 52 is arranged to cooperate with its filling head unit 16 to control the flow of liquid into the bottle 14. The filling head units 16 are arranged in circumferentially spaced relation and in vertical alignment with their respective elevating platforms l2 and the bottles 14 carried thereby.

In accordance with the present invention, the filling head structure herein shown is particularly adapted for filling bottles with foam-producing liquids, although the structure also lends itself to advantage for handling nonfoaming liquids for rapid filling performance. As herein shown, each tubular nozzle 18 (FIG. 7) is supported for vertical movement and is arranged to be longitudinally extended down into the bottle to present the lower end thereof adjacent the bottom of the bottle. During the downward extension of the nozzle 18 into the bottle, liquid is released at a relatively slow rate so as to reduce foaming to a minimum and to accumulate sufficient liquid in the bottle to submerge the end of the filling nozzle in its lowered position. When the filling nozzle 18 is thus lowered and submerged, provision is made for increasing the rate of flow into the bottle to effect a rapid filling thereof without causing foaming of the liquid. Upon filling of the bottle to a predetermined height, provision is made for discontinuing the flow of the liquid into the bottle and for elevating the nozzle to its retracted position.

As herein shown, each filling head unit 16 includes a nozzle block 22 (FIG. 7) providing a chamber 24 having an inlet 26 which is operatively connected to a valve block 25 (FIG. 8) which in turn is connected to a liquid supply conduit 28. The valve block 25 is provided with two normally closed valves 32 and 34 operatively connected to air cylinders 36, 37 respectively. The valves 32 and 34, as will appear hereinafter, provide, respectively, for a slow rate of flow during lowering of the nozzle 18 into the bottle and a fast rate of flow when the noule reaches its lowermost position and is submerged.

The valve block (FIG. 8) contains a chamber 25.1, one end of which is in communication with the passage 67 leading to the chamber 24. Slow and fast flow through the valve block is provided by a manifold 25.2, removably disposed in the chamber 25.1. The manifold contains an axial passage comprising a portion 63 of small diameter and a portion 65 of larger diameter, said passages of small and large diameter containing, respectively, radial ports 63.1 and 65.1. The block also contains an inlet chamber 25.3 to which the conductor 28 is connected and passages 61 and 153 connected, respectively, to each of the ports 63.1 and 65.1. Each of the passages 61 and 153 terminates in a valve seat 61.1 and 153.1 against which the valves 32 and 34 are held. A cross-passage 149 connects the downstream side of the valve seat 61.] to the upstream side of the valve seat 153.1. As thus constructed, when the valve 34 is closed and the valve 32 is open, liquid is permitted to flow through the passage 61, port 63.1, small diameter passage 63 and large diameter passage 65 into the passage 67 which lead to the chamber 24. Flow through the small diameter passage 63 is restricted and so flow takes place at a slow rate. When the valve 34 is raised, flow can take place both through the passage 61 to the manifold and also through the cross-passage 149 and passage 153 to the manifold and from there into the large diameter passage 65, thus providing for a less restricted flow and at a more rapid rate. The manifold is removably mounted in the chamber 25.1 to enable substituting the one illustrated for one with passages of different diameter and has for this purpose a reduced axially extending portion 23 comprising a handle by means of which it may be grasped to extract it from the chamber. A latch plate 46 pivotally mounted on the face of the block and provided with a slot 46.1 for engagement with a peripheral groove 23.3 in the handle provides for removably holding the manifold in lace.

p Each nozzle block 22 is supported from its individual bracket 56 by an extension 27 (FIG. 1) bolted to the bracket by clamping bolts 27.1 (FIG. 6). The lower end of the block 22 is provided with a tubular nozzle support 29 (FIG. 7) threadably secured to the block. An extension of the support 29 comprises an elongated stationary tube 30 for slidingly receiving and guiding the nozzle 18 for vertical movement. The nozzle 18 is tubular and its upper end is provided with a head 31 having a central bore 33 and sidewall openings 35- 35 through which the liquid in the chamber 24 may pass into the nozzle 18. The lower end of the nozzle 18 is also provided with an adapter in the form of a valve 38 having liquid escape openings 59 in the sidewalls thereof. In operation when the nozzle is moved downwardly, the valve is telescopically extended from the lower end of the stationary tube 30 to expose the openings 59 and permit the liquid to flow into the bottle. Conversely when the nozzle is moved upwardly the valve is drawn up into the tube 30, closing the openings 59 and thus terminating the flow of liquid into the bottle. The head 31 is provided with a seal and the valve 38 is provided with an O- ring for sliding engagement with the inside of the stationary tube 30.

The nozzle 18 is detachably connected to an elongated air cylinder 60 supported by a block 40 (FIGS. 1 and 8) attached to the upper end ofan upright bar 41. The lower end of the bar 41 is secured to the bracket 56. The connection between the upper end of the nozzle 18 and the air cylinder 60 includes an elongated rod 43, the upper end of which is detachably connected to a receptacle 45.1 by a retainer plate 45. The receptacle in turn is threadably engaged with the stem 62 of the piston associated with the cylinder 60.

The air cylinder 60 forms part of an air circuit operatively connected to the control unit 52 as will be hereinafter described. In operation, when a bottle has been elevated into position to be filled, the control unit 52 is actuated to effect downward extension of the nozzle into the bottle and opening of the liquid flow valve 32 associated with the air cylinder 36 for effecting a slow rate of flow. When the nozzle approaches the lower end of its stroke the valve 34 associated with the cylinder 37 is opened to effect a faster rate of flow.

The liquid supply conduit 28, as seen in FIG. 1, is radially extended'from a central liquid distributing manifold 64 from which similar conduits 28 extend to each filling head unit. The manifold 64 is mounted on and rotatable with the rotary supporting disc 50 on which the filling head units 16 are mounted. A central depending pipe 66 connected to and in communication with the manifold chamber is operatively connected to a source of supply of the liquid as fully illustrated and described in the US. Pat. No. 3,182,691 above referred to.

Each filling head unit also has associated therewith a small diameter air tube or sensing tube 42 (FIGS. 7 and 8) which is supported from and extends along the exterior of the stationary tubes 29, 30 of the filling head unit. The lower end of the sensing tube 42 provides an outlet 58 open to the atmosphere, and the upper end thereof is connected by a conduit 48 to a source of low-pressure air from the pneumatically operated control unit 52 as will be described.

In operation, a continuous line of bottles 14 on the intake conveyor 15 are transferred onto successive platforms 12 by the transfer spider 13. During the continuous movement of a platform in a rotary path, it is elevated to present the bottle thereon into operative filling position with the nozzle 18 ex tending into its mouth (FIG. 1). As the bottle is elevated, it engages a nozzle guide 76 (FIG. 8) which is provided with a flared opening arranged to receive the neck of the bottle to align it with its nozzle as shown in FIG. 6. The nozzle guide 76 is carried by and detachably connected to a plate 78 supported on the ends of spaced slide rods 80 movable vertically in slide bearings 82. A split snap ring 76.1 engaged within a groove in the guide 76 above the plate 78 provides for removably holding the guide in place. The slide bearings 82 are supported in vertically disposed holes in the extension 27 for heightwise adjustment by means of set screws 27.2. The upper ends of the slide rods 80 are connected by a tie bar 86 which rests on top of the slide bearings 82 when the nozzle guide 76 is in its lowered position as shown in FIG. 7. The nozzle guide is maintained in its lowered position by gravity, and in operation when the bottle is moved upwardly to engage the nozzle guide, the slide rods, together with the tie bar 86, move upwardly.

Conversely, when the platforms 12 are subsequently lowered, the nozzle guide and its slide rods are lowered, the tie bar 86 coming to rest on top of the slide bearings to limit the downward movement. A cam 89x (FIG. 7) cooperates with a roller 89y carried by the tie bar 86 to elevate the nozzle guides 76 at a predetermined position in the rotation following the filling operation to release the bottle for transfer to the discharge spider 19.

Each control unit 52 is supported at the upper end of its individual bracket 56 and provision is made for preventing operation of the pneumatic control unit 52 in the event that no bottle 14 is present on the platform 12 when it is elevated, so as to prevent starting the filling operation at that time. As will be hereinafter described, the pneumatic control unit 52 is provided with a pilot line 87 (FIG. 2) which is arranged to receive a momentary pulse of high-pressure air to initiate the filling cycle. The pilot line 87 communicates with a normally closed air exhaust valve 88 carried by and secured to one side of the control unit 52 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. In operation, the normally closed air exhaust valve 88 is maintained in its opened position until the bottle is elevated into operative filling position. The exhaust valve 88 comprises a housing provided with a chamber in communication with a conventional spring-pressed tire valve, the stem of which extends into and elevates a button 90 above the housing when the valve is closed. The wall of the chamber has an exhaust opening 92 which is open to the atmosphere, and, in operation, when the button 90 is depressed downwardly to open the tire valve, air from the pilot line 87 may pass through the valve into the chamber and out through the exhaust opening 92, thus rendering the pilot line 87 inoperative to activate the control unit 52. Conversely, when the button 90 is elevated by the tire valve stem to cut off the escape of air from the pilot line, the control circuit is rendered operative to activate the control unit.

As shown in FIG. 6 the tie bar 86 is provided with an upstanding rod 94 having a weight 96 slidably mounted on the upper end thereof, and which is arranged to engage and depress the button 90 to open the tire valve to permit escape of air through the exhaust port 92 when the nozzle guide 76 is in its lowered position. A weight elevating member comprising an elongated sleeve 98 is adjustably mounted on the upstanding rod 94 by means of a collar 98.1 and set screw 98.2, and in operation the upper end of the sleeve 98 is arranged to engage and lift the weight off the button 90 when the bottle is elevated into filling position. Thus the button 90 is spring pressed upwardly to permit closing of the tire valve. As a result, the pilot line is sealed so that when high-pressure air is admitted to the pilot line 87 by a momentary of air, the control unit is in readiness to initiate a filling cycle as will be hereinafter more fully described. Conversely, if no bottle is present, the weight 96 will not be lifted, and the tire valve will remain open to exhaust the pilot line through the opening 92, thus rendering the control unit 52 inoperative to start the filling cycle. Thus, in operation, if no bottle is present, the control unit 52 will not be activated to start the filling operation.

Referring now to FIG. 2 the pneumatically operated control unit 52 comprises, in general, a metal block 102 having bored portions therein for receiving the various control valves and having passageways therein for connecting selected control elements. The passageways include a high-pressure air line or circuit 104 having an inlet 106 connected by a conduit 100 to a source of high pressure air; a low-pressure air line or circuit 110 having an inlet 112 connected by a conduit 114 to a source of low-pressure air; and the pilot line 87 arranged to be energized by a momentary pulse of high-pressure air from the line 104 to initiate the filling operation at a time when a bottle is elevated in the filling poisition to effect closing of the valve 88. Because of the small size of the passageways the inlet 106 is recessed to receive a filter 106.1 and the passageway 1041mwardly of the filter is enlarged at 104.1.

In general, and as also diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 4, the control valves include a two-way, normally closed trip valve 116 arranged to be opened by a stationary cam 110 (FIG. 2) during operation of the machine to admit a momentary pulse of'high-pressure air into the pilot line 07; a threeway normally closed pilot valve 120 in communication with the pilot line 87 and arranged to be opened when the pilot line 87 is energized by a momentary pulse of high-pressure air, the pilot valve 120 also having provision for maintaining the pilot line energized to hold the pilot valve open to high-pressure air during the filling operation; and a similar normally closed valve 121 operatively connected by a nipple 123 to the pilot valve 120. Opening of the pilot valve 120 admits high-pressure air from the line 104 through the valve 120 and through connecting nipple 123 to the valve 121 to effect opening of the latter. The normally closed valve 11 is connected by a pipe 122 to a source of high-pressure air, and when the valve is open, the air is permitted to pass through the valve 121 and through a pipe 124 leading to the lower end of the air cylinder 36 to effect opening of the valve 32 to start the filling opera tion. Simultaneously therewith provision is made for lowering the nozzle 13 into the bottle and for controlling the rate of descent of the nozzle. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 48, a branch pipe 195 from the line 122 leads to the intake of a normally closed three-way pilot valve No. which is connected by a pipe 197 to a variable flow control unit 199 which in turn is connected by a pipe 201 to the upper end of the cylinder 60. A branch pipe 127 connects the pipe 124 to the pilot valve 196. When the normally closed valve 121 is opened, air is permitted to flow through the pipe 127 to effect opening of the normally closed valve 196, whereupon air from the pipes 122 and 195 may pass through the valve 196, pipe 197, variable flow unit 199 and pipe 201 into the upper end of the cylinder 60. The normally closed three-way valve 121 and 196 are each provided with exhaust openings (not shown herein), releasing the air when the valves are permitted to return to their normally closed position. Valves of this kind are commercially available and one such valve is manufactured by Humphery Products Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan and is available under the identification No. SKRZEOA.

The variable flow unit 199 (FIG. 5) comprises a valve block 199.1 containing a valve chamber 199.2 having threaded, axially aligned openings at its opposite ends within which are threaded the pipes 197 and 201. Intermediate the ends of the chamber there is an annular shoulder 199.3 providing a valve seat 199.41 against which a ball valve 199.9 is yieldabiy held by a spring 199.6 supported behind it by a cage 199.7. The ball valve permits flow of air pressure through the opening defined by the shoulder 199.3 from the pipe 197, but prevents flow through it from the pipe 201. A needle valve element 199.8 is mounted in a hollow stern 199.9 integral with the block and entering the chamber through a port 199.91, in that portion of the chamber at the downstream side of the ball valve. The needle valve is fixed by means of a set screw 200.1 in a nut 200.2 threaded onto the hollow stern, so that by rotation of the nut the needle valve may be advanced through the port 199.91 to vary the opening. A bypass passage 200.3 from that part of the chamber at the upstream side of the ball valve into the stem provides for flow of the air pressure around the closed ball valve into the stern and from thence into the chamber at the downstream side of the ball valve, and the needle, by adjustment relative to the port 199.9, provides for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid pressure through the valve to the upper end of the cylinder 60 and hence enables controlling the rate of descent of the piston in the cylinder 60. A bushing 200.4 screwed into the open end of the stem provides an adjustable abutment 200.5 for the nut 200.2, so as to positively limit the distance the needle can be projected into the port 199.91, and hence to prevent damage thereto. The needle valve has four positions, a fully closed position, a fully open position and two intermediate positions, one in which a 3 taper at its end is opposite the valve seat which provides for a slow rate of flow through the port and the other a taper of 15 which when opposite the valve seat provides for a faster rate of flow through the port. Optionally, a continuous taper of uniformly decreasing diameter may be employed in place of the stepped taper provided by the 3 and 15 portions shown in FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the pipe line 122 is also connected by a branch line 129 to a mechanicallly operated valve 131 which in turn is connected by a pipe 133 to the air cylinder 37 which is associated with the valve 34. In operation, when the air nozzle 10 approaches its lowermost position, a lug 44 (FIGS. 6 and 0), clamped to the connecting rod 03 engages a roll 135 carried by an arm 137 connected to the valve 131 to effect opening of the valve so as to permit air to pass from the line 129 to the air cylinder 37 to open the valve 34. The valve 131 is provided with an exhaust opening to release the air in the cylinder 37 when the valve is closed. The lug Ml is adjustably secured to the rod 43 by clamp screws 00.1.

The low-pressure air line is under pressure at all times and is arranged to pass through the valve unit 170, to be described, which is in communication with a passageway in the block 102, which leads to a passageway 126 formed in the upper end 120 of the support bracket 56. The passageway 126 is provided with a nipple to which the upper end of the conduit 48 is connected, the lower end being connected to the upper end of the air nozzle 12 forming a part of the filling head unit 16. The low-pressure air line 110 also communicates with a preconvoluted rolling diaphragm 132 housed in an upright block 134 extended from the block 102 which is arranged to be actuated by the backpressure in the low-pressure air line when the outlet 58 of the air nozzle 42 is blocked by the liquid when it reaches a predetermined height in the bottle. The diaphragm 132 carries a valve member 136 arranged to cooperate with a nozzle member 1311 which is in communication with a high-pressure air line 104. The nozzle member 130 forms a part of a pneumatic high-pressure control unit, indicated generally at M0, which is formed in a second upright block 1 12 extended from the block 102. 0p As herein shown,

(FIG. 3), diaphragm 132 extends across a bored opening 179 in one face of the block 134 and is secured in airtight relation thereto by a retaining member 181. The preconvoluted diaphragm (FIG. 3) is provided with a pair of opposed annular discs 183 which fit over a shouldered portion 185 of a flanged and threaded valve member 136. The valve member 136 is secured to the diaphragm by a nut 187 which bears against one disc 183 and the flange of the valve member which bears against the opposite disc.

The valve member 136 is supported at the center of the diaphragm 132 and to this end has a cylindrical portion 135, which fits through a central hole in the diaphragm, of sufficient length to support on either side of the diaphragm a disc 183. A flange 137 at one end of the cylindrical portion and a nut 187 screwed onto a threaded stem 114 at the other end provide for clamping the disc 183 to the diaphragm.

The pneumatic control 140 is provided with a chamber 144 which communicates with the high-pressure air line 104 through a restricted throat portion 146 arranged to offer a substantial resistance to flow of air therethrough, and the nozzle member 138, also in communication with the chamber 144, is provided with a small discharge orifice 148. The throat portion 146 is of smaller diameter than the passage through the nozzle member 138. The nozzle is screwed into a stem 138.1 which in turn is screwed into an opening in the block in communication with the chamber so that it may be removed for adjustment and/or cleaning. A locknut 138.2 mounted on the outer end of the spindle provides for locking it in position.

In operation, the nozzle member 138 may thus be adjusted to space the discharge orifice a predetermined distance from the valve member 136 of the diaphragm, and when the back pressure in the low-pressure air line, effected by blocking of the air nozzle 42, causes the diaphragm to move the valve member 136 toward the nozzle 138, a minute distance to reduce the discharge of air from the nozzle 138, a substantial rise in residual pressure occurs in the chamber 144. The chamber 144 also communicates with a chamber 150 formed in a block 151 supported on the extension 142, the chamber 150 having a resilient upper wall or rolling diaphragm 152 which carries an adjustable spring-loaded stem 154 arranged to be elevated when the pressure in the chamber 144 is increased. Optionally, the diaphragm 152 may be preconvoluted. The stem 154 carries an am 156 provided with a pin 158 which cooperates with a normally closed air escape orifice 160 formed in a vent nipple 162 is communication with the pilot line 87.

Thus, in operation, when the diaphragm 132 is actuated in response to back pressure in a low-pressure air line 110, when a predetermined filling height is reached, the pressure in the pneumatic control 140 is increased to raise the pin 158 from the air escape orifice 160 thus bleeding air from the pilot line 87 to reduce the pressure therein and cause the pilot valve 120 to be spring closed. Closing of the pilot valve 120 permits spring-closing of the valve 121 thus cutting ofl' the air through lines 124, 127. This results in spring-closing of the valve 32 to cut off the supply of liquid and to elevate the piston in the cylinder 60 by virtue of the air pressure through the line 139. The air above the piston is permitted to escape through the flow control unit 199 and through the exhaust opening in the valve 196. At the start of the elevation of the piston, and the nozzle 18 movable therewith, the lug 44 on the rod 43 leaves the arm 137 to permit closing of the valve 131 and thus permits spring-closing of the piston operated valve 34. Thereafter, when the nozzle 18 approaches its uppermost position, the liquid control valve 38 is closed upon entering the stationary tube 30.

The pressure of the air in pipe line 127 for lowering the nozzle into the bottle is in the order of 50 psi. As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 4, a pipeline 139 connected to a source of air at a continuous pressure of between 20 and 30 p.s.i., which may be varied in accordance with requirements, leads to the lower end of the cylinder 60 for elevating the nozzle. in practice, the nozzle 18 is normally maintained in its elevated or retracted position by the continuously applied low pressure, and when the valve 121 is opened, the 50-pound pressure through the line 195, valve 196 and variable flow unit 199 to the upper end of the cylinder 60 overcomes the lower pressure to effect lowering of the nozzle and starts the filling operation. Conversely, when the valve 122 and pilot valve 196 are closed, the 50-pound air pressure is cut off and the lower pressure effects retraction of the nozzle. Closing of the pilot valve permits spring-closing of the valve 121. An atmospheric exhaust port 164 is in communication with the pilot valve 120 and when in its closed position effects rapid discharge of the air and rapid closing of the pilot valve 120. The valve 121 is provided with an atmospheric exhaust similar to 164.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, provision is also made in the present pneumatically operated control unit for clearing the low-pressure air nozzle 42 of any material which may be accumulated therein during the filling operation by directing a momentary surge of high-pressure air through the nozzle at the end of the filling cycle and prior to a succeeding filling cycle. As shown in FIG. 2, in general, this is accomplished by means of a normally closed three-way trip valve indicated at 166, which is arranged to be opened by a stationary cam 168 during the operation of the machine. Opening of the valve 166 admits air from the high-pressure line 104 to a line 169 which leads to a three-way normally closed valve unit 170. The valve unit 170 is arranged to cut off the flow of lowpressure air from the line 110 through it to the line 48 at this point and to admit a momentary surge of high-pressure air from a line 296 through the valve 170, passageways 125, 126 and line 48 to the low-pressure air noule 42 to clear the same as will be hereinafter more fully described. In FIG. 4 the flow of continuous low-pressure air is diagrammatically illustrated by the uninterrupted solid line marked 48, and the intermittent high-pressure air is represented by the broken line 48.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that successive bottles 14 supported on their platforms 12 are elevated to extend the nozzle 18 into the bottle in operative filling position, and elevation of a bottle into filling position operates to close the tire valve 88 to seal the pilot line 87 in readiness to actuate the control unit 52 to start the filling operation during rotation of the bottles with their respective control units.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 12 and 14, the cam 188 for actuating the valve 116 is arranged in the path of a roller 172 carried by an arm 174 pivotally mounted at 175:: in a bracket 176a attached to the block 102. An extension 178 from the arm arm 174 is arranged to depress a spring-pressed plunger 180 forming a part of the valve 116 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 14. The valve 116 includes a conical spring-pressed normally closed valve member 182 carried by a flexible disc 182.1 having openings 182.2 therein. The valve 116 also includes a similar valve member 184 carried by a flexible disc 184.1 and which is normally open as shown. The valve members 182, 184 are connected by a stem 186, and intermediate the valve members is an annular passageway 188 in communication with the chamber of the air exhaust valve 88 through passageways 190a, 192, 194, when the "no bottle," no fill" tire valve is open. The pilot line is also in communication with the passageway 192. The high-pressure air from the line 104 is under pressure at all times and enters through passageway 196 a to the barrier adjacent the seat of the valve member 182. Thus, in operation, when the plunger 180 is depressed by the cam 118, the valve members are shifted to permit high-pressure air to enter the annular passageway 188 through the central passageway and then through connecting radial passageways as shown. in the event that no bottle is present, the tire valve will remain open so that the momentary pulse of air effected by the cam will be exhausted through the port 92 to prevent energizing the pilot line 87. However, when a bottle is present and the same is elevated into filling position to lift the weight 96 off the button 90, the tire valve will be closed when the cam 118 depresses the plunger 180, and as a result a momentary pulse of high-pressure air will enter the pilot line 87. The pilot line air is directed to a chamber 198 of pilot valve 120 which is arranged to shift the position of the valves 200, 202 which are connected by a stem 2116. Thus, valve member 21111 is seated and spring-pressed valve member 262 is open to admit high-pressure air from line 104 into the central chamber 203. In order to hold the pilot line energized during the filling cycle, the stem 204i is provided with a small passageway 208 in communication with the central chamber 203 and which leads to the chamber 198 in back of the valve 200. As a result, the pilot line remains energized during the filling operation. The pulse from the line 87 opens the valve 120 and the valve 121 to initiate the filling operation. Opening valve 129 permits high-pressure air to flow through it and to hold it open and in turn to hold the valve 121 open during the filling operation.

When the liquid in the bottle reaches a predetermined height, such as to cut off the escape of low-pressure air from the outlet 58, the back pressure built up in the low-pressure line 110 enters a chamber 210 in back of the diaphragm 132 to reduce the gap and consequently impede the escape of air between the valve member 136 and the nozzle member 1356. it will be observed that the low-pressure air supply is provided with a relatively small inlet 212 comprising a Venturi tube, the end of which extends beyond the inlet to the chamber 210, so that in practice the air entering the line 110 will not be initially directed to the diaphragm chamber. On the other hand, when the low-pressure outlet 58 is blocked off to permit the pressure in the line 110 to reach its potential, the Venturi tube impedes the flow of air therethrough in a reverse direction and causes the increase in pressure to be directed to the diaphragm chamber 210. The Venturi tube 212 thus serves as a metering orifice to maintain and prevent disruption of the constant pressure at the source of supply during successive filling operations. As previously described, movement of the valve member 136 toward the nozzle 138 causes an increase in .pressure in the pneumatic unit M to lift the pin 158 off the air vent nipple 162 to exhaust the air in the pilot line 87. In practice, the nozzle 138 may be adjusted relative to the valve member 136 to obtain a predetermined increase in pressure when the diaphragm 132 is moved a distance sufficient to elevate the spring-pressed stem 154 and to exhaust the pilot line 87 when a predetermined filling height is reached. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a spring 214 interposed between a shoulder 216 of the stem 154 and a collar 218 slidingly mounted on the stem may be adjusted by an adjusting cylinder 220 threadably engaged with the block or housing 151. The cap 222 of the cylinder engages a ball 2241 set in a hollow slide rod 226 in which the upper end of the stem is received, the lower end of the rod 226 engaging the collar 216. A check nut 228 is provided to hold the cylinder in its adjusted position. As a result, in practice each individual unit may be easily and quickly adjusted so that the pressure exerted by the spring 21 1 may be varied whereby it will be overcome by a relatively small increase in the pressure built up in the chamber 151) in a manner such that a uniform filling height may be maintained in each unit. In other words, the nozzle members 138 may be initially adjusted to provide a predetermined uniform gap between the nozzles and the valves 136 which provides a predetermined pressure in each control unit 1411, as determined by a test gauge inserted into a normally closed adapter 230 as shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the spring pressure on the stem 154 may be individually adjusted so that any small increase in pressure in the control unit M0 above the initial setting will overcome the spring 214 to lift the pin 158 and bleed the pilot line 87. Immediately upon exhaustion of the pilot line 87, the pilot valve 120 is shifted by its spring to close off the high-pressure air and to open the central chamber 203 to the atmosphere through the exhaust opening 16 As shown in FIG. 2, the air in the line 123 may exhaust through the small passageway 208 and into the central passage 203. The air then passes by the open valve member 200 and through a communicating passageway 232 into an annular passageway 23 1 which communicates with the exhaust opening 164.

Referring again to FIG. 2 for a more detailed description of the provision for clearing the pressure-sensing nozzle 62 after each filling operation, it will be seen that the three-way trip valve unit 166 is similar in structure and mode of operation to the two-way trip valve unit 116 and is provided with a normally closed valve member 266 and a normally open valve member 262 connected by a stem 264i. High-pressure air is directed from the line 106 through a passageway 266 to a chamber in back of the normally spring-closed valve 269. When the valve unit 166 is shifted by its cam 166, the valve member 262 is closed the valve member 260 is open to admit air passed the valve 261) into a chamber intermediate the two valve members and through radial openings to an annular chamber 266 in communication with the line 169. The line 169 leads to a chamber 276 in back of a valve member 272 forming a part of the valve unit 1711. The valve member 272 is connected by a stem 276 to a normally closed valve member 275 which is movable in a chamber 276 connected by a passageway 276 and pipe line 296 (FlG. 1 -1) to an independent source of air which may be varied from 0 to 50 p.s.i., as will be hereinafter more fully described.

As shown in MG. the chamber 276 defined by the valve member 275 and an adapter 316 is in communication with passageways 276, 326 connected to the inlet 322 of the aforesaid pipe line 296.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and M, during the filling operation the low-pressure air from the line 110 passes into an annular chamber 3116 formed in the valve unit and through a connecting passageway 3112 and past the normally open valve member 272 into a central chamber 304 intermediate the valve members 272, 275. The low-pressure air in the chamber 304 then passes through radial openings 306 to a second annular chamber 306 formed in the valve unit 170. The passageways 125, 126 leading to the pressure-sensing nozzle 12 are in communication with the annular chamber 308 as shown. Thus, in operation, the low-pressure air may pass through the valve unit 1711 during the filling operation. However, when the valve unit 166 is shifted by the cam 166 after the filling operation is completed, high-pressure air from the line 169 enters the chamber 271] to shift the valve members 272, 275 to the right to close off the entrance of low-pressure air past the valve 272 and to open valve member 275, thus permitting high-pressure air from the chamber 276 to pass around the valve member 275 into the intermediate chamber 304 and through the radial passages 3116 to the annular passage 3911 in communication with the passageways 125, 126, leading to the low-pressure air-sensing nozzle 12, t thus effecting clearance of any accumulated material therein by a blast of high-pressure air. It will be noted that the valve member 272 is closed when the valve member 275 is open, so that no high-pressure air is directed into the low-pressure line at any time. It will be understood that the nozzle clearing operation comprises merely a momentary blast of air and that the valve unit 170 immediately returns to its normal position to direct the low-pressure air to the sensing nozzle. The momentary character of the high-pressure air for effecting the blowdown is represented, as heretofore indicated, diagrammatically in FIG. 6 by the broken line 66 extending from the valve unit 1711 to the sensing nozzle 62. As shown in FIG. 2, when the three-way cam-operated valve 166 returns to its normal position with the valve member 260 closed and the valve member 262 open, the line 169 and chamber 271) is vented through the open valve member 262, then through openings 261.1 in the diaphragm 261 supporting the valve member 262, then through openings 263.1 in the flange 263 of the retainer 265, then through clearance opening 162.1 in the cover 267 and finally through a slotted portion 269 of the cover to the atmosphere. The valve 176 is thus permitted to shift to the left as viewed in FIG. 2 by virtue of the coiled spring 279 in the chamber 276. Optionally, the spring 279 may be omitted since the diaphragm supporting the valve member 275 has a greater effective area than the diaphragm supporting the valve member 272 which contains, in contrast to the diaphragm supporting the valve member 275, ports. It will also be noted that each trip valve unit 116 and 166 has a relatively small movement to seat and unseat their respective opposed valve members. Hence, the button 180 is spring pressed outwardly so that when the valve is actuated by its cam, the button 180 is pennitted an ample overthrow by virtue of the spring.

It will be understood that the pressure in the low-pressure line 110 cannot rise above its predetermined regulated pressure and even if high pressure was inadvertently introduced into the low-pressure line during the nozzle clearing operation, the momentary rise in pressure would merely trip the diaphragm control unit a second time during the cycle which would be ineffective since the pilot line 87 has already been exhausted at the end of the filling cycle.

As illustrated in detail in FIG. 12, the cams 118 and 168 are mounted in the path of their respective rollers 172 of the control units 52, the cam 168 for effecting clearing of the sensing nozzle 42 preceding the cam 118 for initiating the filling operation so that the sensing nozzle 42 is cleared and the materialglischarged directly into its bottle prior to starting of the fillingoperation. As herein shown, each cam 118, 168 is pivotally supported with the nozzle clearing cam 168 mounted above and preceding the cam 118 for starting the filling cycle. The cams 118 and 168 may be supported and operated in the manner illustrated and described in the copending application Ser. No. 857,593 above referred to.

It will be further understood that while the description thus far provides that low-pressure air is utilized for the sensing nozzle 42 and high-pressure air for the nozzle clearing operation, it will be apparent that the low-pressure line 110 may be connected to a source of an inert gas, such as nitrogen under pressure to effect purging of the bottle and that the high-pressure air connection 296 may be likewise connected to a source of high-pressure nitrogen as illustrated and described in my copending application Ser. No. 857,593, referred to above. As also disclosed in such prior application instead of clearing the sensing nozzle 42 when the same is inserted into the bottle, that is, immediately prior to the start of the filling operation, the clearing operation may be performed after the nozzle is withdrawn from a filled bottle, the cleared liquid being deposited in a pan. 1n practice, provision is made for regulating and varying the amount ofpressure used for the clearing operation as will be hereinafter described. lf a pan is to be used to catch the blowdown it should be mounted between the feed and discharge spiders 13, 14 as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 12, and at a level between the paths of movement of the platforms and the filling heads.

From the description thus far it will be seen that in the operation of the machine the bottles 14 are elevated on their platforms 12 into filling relationship with their respective nozzles at which time the normally open exhaust valve 88 is closed to cut off the exhaust pilot line through the port 92. Thereafter, the filling operation is initiated by actuating the valve unit 116 which activates the pilot line 87 to open the pilot valve 120 and to shift the valve members 143, 145 of the valve 121 to the left. This permits passage of air from pipe 122 through passageway 146' of the valve 121; then past the open valve member 143 to the central chamber 147; then through communicating passageways 148 to pipe 124 and branch pipe 127, the latter pipe leading to the normally closed three-way pilot valve 196 to effect opening of the same. Upon opening of the valve 196, the air from lines 122 and 195 may pass through the valve 196 and flow control unit 199 into the upper end of the air cylinder 60 to effect lowering of the nozzle into the bottle. Simultaneously therewith, air is directed through pipe 124 to cylinder 36 to effect opening of the valve 32. Since the stroke of the valve 32 is short in comparison to the stroke of the piston in the cylinder 60 and hence the stroke of the nozzle, the valve is open early in the downward stroke of the nozzle and conversely is closed early in the upward stroke of the nozzle. in operation, the liquid released into the bottle through the valve 32 will provide sufficient depth of liquid in the lower part of the bottle during the descent of the nozzle so that the lower end of the nozzle will be submerged when it reaches its lowermost point at which time the valve 34 is opened. The flow control unit 199 is provided in order to assure this condition, the flow being adjustable to control the descent of the noule as related heretofore, so that sufficient liquid is deposited at a slow rate into the bottle to effect submersion of the lower end of the nozzle when it reaches its lowermost point. Thus, when the valve 34 is open the end of the nozzle 18 will be submerged so as to reduce foaming to a minimum.

The flow control unit 199 also provides for filling bottles of odd shape wherein it is the shape of the bottle which causes turbulence and blocks filling rather than the nature of the liquid. For example, many bottles are hourglass shape, that is, having a constricted portion between the upper and lower ends and when an attempt is made to fill such a bottle rapidly, even though the liquid is not of the foaming kind, the resistance to flow through the restricted portion sets up so much turbulence and resistance to flow that the liquid fills up the portion of the bottle above the restriction faster than it passes through the restriction and hence causes surging of the liquid but through the open top of the bottle. This can be overcome in the present machine by adjusting the control unit 199 so that the nozzle is moved rapidly downwardly from the top through the restricted portion to a position beyond it and dur' ing this time releasing the liquid at a slow rate and after the nozzle has moved beyond the restricted portion releasing the liquid at a rapid rate so as to fill the bottle quickly. When used in this fashion the block 44 will be adjusted downwardly on the rod 43 so that it will open the fast flow valve as soon as the nozzle clears the restriction.

As shown in FIG. 8 the downwardly spring-pressed valve member 32 normally cuts off all flow of liquid by pipe 28 and when the pilot valve 121 is open, the valve member 32 is elevated to permit the liquid to flow through the passageway 61; small diameter passage 63; the large diameter passageway 65; and passageway 67 at a slow rate into the chamber 24 of the filling head 16 which is in communication with the nozzle 18. When the nozzle approaches its lowermost position, the lug 44 carried by the rod 43 engages roller carried by the pivotally mounted arm 137, the arm effecting depression of a valve stem 141 forming a part of the valve 131, thus opening the valve 34. Opening of the valve member 34 permits flow of liquid passed the valve member 32, through passageway 149, passed valve member 34; and into passageways 153, 65, and 67 at a fast rate to the chamber 24. As previously related, the fiow control unit indicated at 20 in FIG. 8 comprising the manifold containing the passageways 63 and 65 is removably and interchangeably fitted into the valve block 25 and is provided with a handle 23 for convenience in assembling and removing the unit.

The liquid continues to flow into the bottle when the nozzle is in its lowermost position until the liquid reaches a height such as to block the escape of low-pressure air from the outlet 58 of the sensing tube 42. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, provision is made for mounting the sensing tube 42 for limited movement vertically with respect to the stationary tube 30, the object being to dispose the end 58 of the sensing tube at a predetermined lower position for the purpose of sensing the height of the liquid during the filling operation and for thereafter elevating the sensing tube 42 a short distance above the liquid level so as not to incur any turbulence or foaming by reason of the low-pressure air' escaping from the sensing tube after the filling operation has been terminated. As herein shown, the sensing tube 42 is carried by clamping elements 68-68 fast on an upright rod 70 slidingly mounted in cars 71--71 of a bracket 72 fixedly secured to the stationary tube 30. The rod 70 extends upwardly through and beyond the nozzle block 22 and is provided with a shouldered portion 73 slidable in the nozzle block opening. A coiled spring 74 interposed between the shoulder 73 and the upper ear 71 tends to urge the nozzle 42 upwardly as limited by engagement of the clamp elements 68-68 with the ears 71-71. lt will be observed that the upper end of the connecting rod 43 is provided with a weight 75.

In operation, when the rod 13 is moved downwardly to present the nozzle 15 to the lower end of the bottle, the weight 75 is arranged to engage the upper end of the rod 76 to press it downwardly and to present the outlet end 55 at a predetermined level to sense the height of the liquid deposited in the bottle. As soon as the liquid reaches said predetennined level the back pressure actuates the control unit 52 as described to effect upward retraction of the nozzle 18 whereupon the weight 75 will leave the rod 711 to permit spring-return of the sensing tube 412 to an elevated position above the level of the liquid for the purpose stated.

lt will be observed that during upward retraction of the noz zle 18 any liquid remaining within the interior of the nozzle will continue to flow through the discharge openings 59 into the bottle. Also, any liquid remaining within the tube 30 above the nozzle adapter 31 or within the chamber 24 will escape through the openings 35, into the interior of the nozzle, and then through the discharge openings 59 into the bottle during upward retraction of the nozzle. It will be understood that the amount of volume of the liquid added to the contents of the bottle during upward retraction of the nozzle is substantially uniform for each filling head so as to obtain uniform filling height in successive bottles.

As also illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6, provision is made for adjusting the filling height of each unit by providing an ad justable stop to limit the downward position of the sensing tube 42. As herein shown, a clamp 81 adjustably mounted on one of the slide bearings 82 carries an arm 83 provided with a pin 84 which is frictionally mounted in an opening in the clamp 81. The free end of the arm is provided with a roller 85. The arm 83 is also provided with a pin 91 extending laterally therefrom and which is arranged to cooperate with and serve as a stop for cooperation with an extension of the upper movable clamp member 68 to limit the downward movement of the sensing tube 52. The arm 33 is arranged to be frictionally moved to an adjusted position as limited by opposed extensions 93 (H0. 11) at the inner end of the arm adapted to engage the stop pin 95 extending laterally from the clamp 81. A stationary, vertically adjusted cam track 97 is arranged to be engaged by the roller 85 during rotation of the filling head. Thus, in operation;*in order to change the filling height of all of the filling heads in a uniform manner, it is merely necessary to adjust the cam track 97 to a position to be engaged by successive rollers 55.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 11, the cam track 97 is U- shaped in cross section and has a tapering web 97.1 and converging upper and lower engaging flanges 99, 101) respectively. The web 97.1 is provided with a pin 101 journaled in a bracket 103.1 attached to a portion of the machine frame. The rocker pin 101 extends laterally from the wide end of the web, the narrow end of the web being also provided with a pin 119 extended laterally therefrom and supported for rocking movement in an opening in a coupling member 105. The coupling member is also provided with a threaded opening 1115.1 for receiving the threaded end ofa vertical shaft 1117. The shaft is journaled in a bracket 111 attached to the machine frame, and the upper end of the shaft is provided with a miter gear 109 fast thereto. A second miter gear 113 in mesh with the gear 109 is fast on a shaft 115 journaled in an extension of the bracket 111. A handwheel 117 is fast on the other end of the shaft 115. ln operation, rotation of the handwheel in one direction will rock the cam track upwardly to effect positioning of the end of the sensing tube to provide a relatively high filling level and, conversely, rotation of the handwheel in the opposite direction will rock the track downwardly to effect positioning of the end of the filling tube to provide a lower filling level. It will be noted that the pin 101 is movable in a slot 101.1 formed in the bracket 103 to prevent binding of the parts during adjustment thereof. in practice, after an adjustment is made the coupling member may be clamped to maintain the cam track in its adjusted position by clamping means comprising a screw 1115.2 extending through an elongate slot in the web from the rear side and through the coupling, and a nut 105.3 threaded onto the protruding end of the screw at the front side of the coupling. it will be apparent that with this structure the positioning of the frictionally mounted arm 83 to vary the filling height in the bottle may be accomplished during the operation of the machine to produce a uniform filling height in successive bottles. Prior to the above-described expedient for adjusting the filling height, it was the practice to vary the lift of the platform 12. However, in the present machine wherein the nozzle 15 is lowered to a position near the bottom of the bottle, it is preferred to maintain a fixed lift so as to avoid engaging the bottom wall of the bottle directly with the end of the noule.

Provision is made in the illustrated embodiment of the invention for stopping the machine in the event that a normally retracted nozzle 15 has dropped down to its lowered position during an idle period of the machine. In practice, when the machine is shut down, and the air pressure is discontinued, seepage of air from the cylinder 61) may permit downward extension of the nozzle 111 by gravity. Thus, when the machine is subsequently started, a nozzle extended into a filled bottle ready to be discharged will be damaged when the bottle is engaged by the discharge spider unless such condition is detected and the machine stopped whereby to permit the condition to be corrected. Likewise, an inadvertently lowered nozzle might be moved into engagement with a bottle being transferred onto a platform 12. When the compressed air is turned on, the nozzles will be retracted to their upraised positions.

As illustrated in F165. 5 and 9, a normally closed switch having an arm 157 provided with a roller 159 is arranged to cooperate with a U-shaped switch operating member 161 (FIG. 5) carried by each filling unit. Each U-shaped member 161 is movable into the path of the roller 159 to open the switch when the nozzle is in its lowered position, and is movable out of the path of the roller when the nozzle is in its raised position. The normally closed switch 155 forms a part of the motor circuit and is supported on a portion of the machine frame. As herein shown, the legs 161.1-161.1 of the U- shaped member 161 straddle the upper end of the nozzle supporting structure and are pivotally supported at their distal ends by a pin 163 carried by a latch member 165, the latter being itself pivotally supported on a pin 167 extended through the upright supporting bar 41. The latch member is movable in a central slot 11.1 as shown in FlG. 10. The legs of the U-shaped member 161 adjacent the switch are provided with opposed aligned slots 171171 to receive the ends of a pin 1731 supported in a bracket member 175 attached to the block 40, which supports the air cylinder. The latch member 165 is arranged to cooperate with a latch block 176 secured to the receptacle 15.1 which connects the piston stem 62 and the nozzle supporting rod 413. A coiled spring 177 connected at one end to the latch member 165 by a screw lug 177.1 and at its other end to the upper end of the bar 41 by a screw lug 177.2 tends to urge the same in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, in operation, when the nozzle is in an elevated position, as shown in FIG. 5, the latch 165 is engaged with the latch block 176 to maintain the U-shaped switch-engaging member 161 in a position to the right, as shown in F116. 5, out of the path of the normally closed switch 155. lt will be noted that the latch block 176 has an angular face 176.1 in engagement with an angular face 165.1 provided on the latch member. Such angular engaging faces permit yielding of the latch member 165 to the right when the air pressure in the cylinder 61) is turned on to lower the nozzle into the bottle at a predetermined time in the cycle. Subsequently, when the nozzle 15 is retracted upwardly the latch member 165 again engages the latch block 176. it will be understood that the switch 155 is disposed at a point in the cycle immediately prior to the arrival of the filling head at the discharge station. Normally, the nozzle will be held in its upwardly retracted position by the air pressure through the pipe line 139 at this time so that the switch-engaging member 161 is held out of the path of the roll 159. However, in the event of malfunction, so that the nozzle is not elevated out of the bottle and is inadvertently disposed in its down position at this time, the spring 177 will rock the latch 165 to the left to move the member 161 into the path of the roller 159 to open the switch 165 and discontinue operation of the machine. On the other hand, while the switch 165 is provided as a safety device, it will be evident that in nonnal operation, when the nozzle is elevated out of the bottle by the air pressure, the switch-operating member 161 will be disposed in an inoperative position and the latch mechanism will assist in maintaining the nozzle in its upraised position even when the machine is idle and the air is shut off.

Compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic control unit 52 and to the associated valves and cylinders from a common source, some of the air being directed through regulators to reduce the pressure for a particular use, and some of the air being directed through lubricators to provide lubrication along with the compressed air for a particular element. The air of different pressures and conditions is directed to different compartments of a center section 238 comprising a plurality of air supply chambers arranged one above the other and mounted on top of the manifold 64 rotatable with the disc 50. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the main supply line 240 is provided with a regulated supply of compressed air at about 50 p.s.i., permitting an usual or preferred source and leads to a pipe fitting 242 mounted on and arranged to permit rotation of an upstanding inlet pipe 244 in communication with the upper compartment comprising a high-pressure air distributing chamber 246 from which the high-pressure air conduit 108 extends to the inlets 106 and passageways 104 of the control unit 52.

The compartment immediately below the chamber 246 houses a chamber 248 for low-pressure air arranged to be directed to the sensing tube 42 through conduits 114 to inlet 112 of low-pressure line 110 of the control unit 52. The lowpressure air has a pressure in the order of about 15 inches of water pressure or less. In order to obtain the reduced pressure, a conduit 250 from the chamber 246 is continued through a branch line 252 into a regulator 254 (FIG. 12) which reduces the pressure of 50 p.s.i. to 20 p.s.i. The air at 20 p.s.i. then passes through a second regulator 256 which reduces the pressure to 15 inches of water, or more properly, to a variable or regulated pressure ranging up to 15 inches of water. The reduced air pressure then passes through conduit 258 to the chamber 248 for distribution to the low-pressure air line as described.

The next underlying compartment (FIG. 1) houses the chamber 268 containing air at a continuous pressure of between 20 and 30 p.s.i. or thereabout which is directed through pipe line 139 to the bottom of the cylinder 60, so as to normally maintain the nozzle 18 in its upwardly retracted position. The 20 to 30 p.s.i. air is obtained from the 50 p.s.i. supply by directing the air through branch line 279, 281; through air filter 280; passageway 282 in manifold 283; from passageway 282 through connecting pipe 232 to regulator 286 which reduces the pressure to 20-to 30 p.s.i. From regulator 286 the air passes through pipe line 288 to the chamber 268. A relief valve 220 may be connected to the chamber 268 as shown in FIG. 1 to permit release of air when the nozzles are lowered against the 20 to 30 p.s.i. pressure in the cylinder 60.

The next compartment down comprises the chamber 290 which contains lubricated air at 50 p.s.i. directed through the pipe line 122; valve 121; and conduit 124, 127 to the upper end of cylinder 60 for lowering of the nozzle 18 into the bottle. The lubricated air at 50 p.s.i. is obtained from the lubricator 284 which is connected to passageway 282 and pipe line 285, 292 leading from the lubricator to the chamber 290.

The lowermost compartment comprises a chamber 294 which distributes nonlubricating air at variable or regulating pressure from to 50 p.s.i. through pipe lines 296 to the inlet 278 leading to the valve 170 for the purpose of clearing the air tube 42 at the end of each filling operation. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the air from the chamber 246 passes through lines 250, 279 to a regulator 310 and then through line 312 to the chamber 294. It will thus be seen that the air pressure for clearing the sensing tube 42 at the end of a filling operation may be varied or regulated. This feature is of advantage when running some liquids such as oily liquids which break up into small particles to form a mist within the bottle when a blast of air of too high a pressure is passed through the tube. Such mist is objectionable and may be eliminated by adjusting the regulator 310 to obtain a lower pressure in the chamber 294 for clearing the sensing tube 42.

in the copending application Ser. No. 857,593 above referred to, and assigned to the same assignee, a modified form of extension is provided for purging the bottle prior to and during the filling operation so as to reduce to a minimum any air in the bottle which might be detrimental to the product being run. In such modification the low-pressure air line is connected to a source of low-pressure nitrogen, and a momentary surge of high-pressure nitrogen is provided for clearing the operation instead of a surge of high-pressure air. it will be apparent that the present structure may also be used for purging the bottles and for clearing the sensing tube by merely substituting a supply of nitrogen or other suitable inert gas under pressure in the chambers 248 and 294 for the compressed air and that such inert gas may be varied in pressure by passing the same through regulators of the type shown in FIG. 1.

it will be understood that, in practice, liquids vary greatly in their foam-producing propensities and, in general, it can be said that most treated liquids are subject to foaming when agitated. However, many of such liquids may be handled in conventional filling machines without difiiculty where permitted to flow freely at an appropriate rate of flow into a conventional bottle. The present machine is particularly adapted for handling foam-producing liquids which cannot be successfully handled on the prior filling machine, Furthermore, foamproducing liquids which might be successfully handled in the prior machine when introduced into conventional bottles cannot be handled successfully when introduced into odd-shaped and nonconventional bottles wherein the flow from the nozzle may impinge against a closely adjacent wall of an odd-shaped bottle so as to cause excessive foaming. It will be apparent that the present method of filling is also of particular advantage in filling such bottles. in other words, it is not only the consistency of the liquid but also because the stream from the outlet may impinge on a closely adjacent wall of an unusually shaped bottle which may cause excessive foaming.

From the above description, it will be seen that the present improved bottle-filling machine is particularly adapted for filling operations wherein the filling operation is interfered or impeded either by the foaming characteristics of the liquid or the geometry of the bottle, The term bottle" employed herein in conjunction with the description of the operation of the machine is intended to cover broadly any container regardless of the material of which it is fabricated.

I claim:

1, ln a container-filling machine, a filling nozzle having an inlet and outlet, a liquid supply line in communication with said inlet, first and second valves in the supply line for releasing liquid to the filling nozzle at different rates, said first valve being located upstream of said second valve such that all liquid flow to the container is via said first valve, means interconnecting said first and second valves with said filling nozzle inlet so that when said second valve is closed and said first valve is open flow of liquid takes place through said first valve at a slow rate and when said second valve is open and said first valve is open the flow of liquid is at a faster rate, container supporting means for supporting a container having a top opening with the top opening in vertical alignment with the nozzle and with the outlet of the nozzle situated within the top opening at a predetermined initial position adjacent the top of the container, means for efi'ecting movement of the nozzle into the container to establish a relation between the container supporting means and nozzle wherein the nozzle is situated in the container with the outlet at a predetermined distance from the bottom and for simultaneously opening said first valve to submerge said outlet, adjustable means operable near the termination of the movement of the nozzle to said predetermined distance from the bottom to open said second valve after the outlet is submerged to effect rapid filling of the container with a minimum of disturbance, and sensing means for closing said first valve to cut off the supply of liquid when the liquid reaches a predetermined height in the container and for effecting withdrawal of said nozzle to said initial position at the top of the container, said adjustable means being operable as withdrawal movement commences to close said second valve.

2. A container-filling machine according to claim 1, comprising a nozzle support by means of which the nozzle is supported for movement from said position adjacent the top of the container into the container to said predetermined distance from the bottom, and wherein said adjustable means comprises relatively movable, linearly spaced parts operable by interengagement to effect operation of said second valve, means mounting one of said parts so as to partake of the movement of the noule support, and means for predisposing said parts relative to each other at a predetermined spacing determinative of the position at which operative interengagement of said parts will take place.

3. Apparatus according to claim ll, comprising a spring biasing said second valve to a closed position, a fluid operable motor connected to said second valve operable to open said second valve in opposition to said spring, and a valve operable to supply fluid to said motor, said adjustable means comprising a lever operable, by movement of the nozzle into the container to said predetermined distance from the bottom, to effect operation of said motor to open said second valve and by withdrawal therefrom to effect operation of said lever so as to disable said motorand allow said second valve to be closed by said spring, and a part mounted on the nozzle support and movable therewith for effecting operation of said lever, said part being adjustable relative to said lever to a predetermined initial spacing therefrom determinative of the position at which said second valve will be opened and closed.

4. A container-filling machine according to claim ll comprising means for adjusting the last-named means to enable opening the second valve at different levels according to the foaming characteristics of the liquid.

5. in a container-filling machine, a filling noule having an outlet, means supporting a container having an open top with the open top in vertical alignment with the nozzle and with the outlet of the nozzle within the open top at an initial predetermined position adjacent the top of the container, means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle comprising a fluid motor connected to the nozzle operable to lower the nozzle into the container and withdraw it therefrom to establish a relation between the container support and nozzle such that the nozzle is situated within the container with the outlet at a predetermined distance from the bottom, first and second valve controlled passages for supplying liquid to the nozzle, respectively, at a slow rate until the outlet is submerged and thereafter at a faster rate until the container is filled to a predetermined level, said first valve being located upstream of said second valve such that all liquid flow to the container is via said first valve, a pneumatically operable cylinder and piston assembly connected to each valve for effecting its operation, a spring operating on each valve to hold it closed, said pneumatically operable cylinder and piston assemblies being operable to open said valves, fluid pressure control means including third and fourth valve means, said third valve means being operable to supply pressure to said motor to effect relative movement of the container support and nozzle such as to lower the nozzle into the container, to supply pressure to the cylinder connected to said first valve to effect opening of said first valve to in turn supply liquid to the nozzle at a slow rate, means supplying fluid pressure to said fourth valve means, said fourth valve means being operable to supply pressure to the cylinder connected to said second valve lid to open said second valve to in turn supply liquid to the nozzle at a higher rate, an arm operably connected to said fourth valve, means movable by downward movement of the nozzle to effect movement of the arm when the nozzle reaches said predetermined distance from the bottom to open said fourth valve and to hold said fourth valve open as the level of the liquid rises in the container, and sensing means operable when the level of the liquid reaches a predetermined height to disable said third valve, said arm being released by withdrawal of the noule and operable by such release to disable said fourth valve.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fluid motor comprises a cylinder and piston assembly including a piston rod connected to the nozzle by means of which the noule is lowered and raised relative to the container support, wherein there is means for supplying pressure to the lower end of the cylinder for holding the piston elevated therein and hence for holding the nozzle elevated with respect to the container support, and wherein said third valve is adapted to supply pressure at a higher level to the upper end of the cylinder to lower the piston therein in opposition to the pressure supplied to the lower end.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first and second valves control passages of different diameter, the first being of smaller diameter than the second.

In a container-filling machine, a filling nozzle having an inlet and outlet, valve means for supplying liquid from a source of liquid to the inlet of said nozzle, said valve means comprising an assembly embodying a chamber having an inlet port adapted to be connected to the source of liquid and an outlet port adapted to be connected to the inlet of the nozzle, and a passage intermediate said ports, said passage comprising portions of two diameters and being closed at one end and open at the other end and connected at the open end to said outlet port, the portion of the passage of smaller diameter preceding the portion of the passage of the passage of larger diameter in the direction of flow, a lateral passage connected to each of the two portions of difi'ere'nt diameter and to the said inlet port, first and second valve means situated in said lateral passages operable to control the flow through the inlet port to the portions of smaller and larger diameter to provide for slow flow when said second valve means is closed and said first valve means is open and to provide for fast flow when both of said valves means are open, port means communicating said second valve means with said first valve means such that said second valve means is supplied with liquid via said first valve means, means for supporting a container having a top opening with the top opening in vertical alignment with the nozzle and with the outlet of the nozzle situated within the top opening at a predetermined initial position adjacent the top of the container, means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to establish a relation between the container support and nozzle wherein the nozzle is situated with the outlet at a predetermined distance from the bottom and for simultaneously opening said first valve means to commence filling the container, adjustable means operable near the termination of said relative movement at which position the nozzle outlet is submerged to open said second valve means to effect rapid filling of the container with a minimum of turbulence, and sensing means for closing said first valve means to cut off the supply of liquid when the liquid reaches a predetermined height in the container and for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to reestablish the initial position of said nozzle relative to the top of the container, said adjustable means being operable simultaneously with the initiation of said latter movement to close said second valve means.

9. in a container-filling machine, a filling nozzle having an inlet and outlet, a liquid supply line in communication with said inlet, a valve for supplying liquid from said line to the inlet of said nozzle, said valve comprising a valve block containing an inlet chamber, a manifold chamber in. the valve block, ports connecting the inlet chamber to said manifold chamber, a metering element removably mounted in the manifold chamber, said metering element containing an axial passage embodying portions of two diameters arranged with the portion of smaller diameter preceding the portion of larger diameter in the direction of flow through the valve block, said metering element containing lateral ports, one in each portion, aligned with the ports connecting the manifold chamber to the inlet chamber, first means normally closing one of said ports operable to permit first flow through the port connecting the inlet chamber to the portion of smaller diameter for slow delivery of liquid through the valve, second means, located downstream of said first means, normally closing the other of said ports and being operable to permit flow through said other port connecting the inlet chamber to the portion of larger diameter for fast delivery of liquid through the valve, said metering element being adapted to be removed from the manifold chamber and replaced with a metering element containing passages of different diameter for providing for different rates of slow and fast delivery of liquid through the valve, container supporting means for supporting a container having a top opening with the top opening in vertical alignment with the nozzle and with the outlet of the nozzle situated within the top opening at a predetermined initial position adjacent the top of the container, means for effecting movement of said container support and nozzle relative to each other to establish a relation between said container support and nozzle wherein the nozzle is situated within the container at a predetermined distance from the bottom and for controlling the first and second means nonnally closing said ports to permit first flow through one port and then flow through both ports, sensing means operable by rise of the liquid in the container to a predetermined level to effect closing of said first means normally closing the slow flow port and simultaneously disabling said last-named means, and means for simultaneously effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to reestablish the initial position of the nozzle relative to the top of the container and to close said second means normally closing the fast flow port.

10. ln a container-filling machine, a container support, a filling nozzle having an inlet and outlet, a liquid supply line, valve means for controlling the flow of liquid from the supply line to the nozzle, said valve means comprising a valve block having an inlet opening in communication with said liquid supply line and an outlet opening in communication with said nozzle, a manifold chamber in the block connected to the outlet opening, a pair of ports in the block entering said manifold chamber, means connecting the ports to each other and means connecting one of said ports to the inlet opening, means normally closing each of said ports, said latter means being operable successively to open the port connected to the inlet to supply liquid to the container at a relatively slow rate and to place the ports in communication with each other, means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to move the nozzle into a container resting on the support to a predetermined distance from the bottom thereof, and for simultaneously effecting operation of said means normally closing said ports to open the port connected to the inlet, adjustable means operable by said relative movement of the container support and nozzle near the termination of said relative movement to open the other port to effect rapid filling of the container with a minimum of turbulence, sensing means for effecting closing of said port connected to the inlet to cut off the supply when the liquid reaches a predetermined height in the container and for disabling the means by means of which the nozzle was moved to said predetermined distance from the bottom, and means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to return the nozzle to its initial position relative to the top of the container and simultaneously to close the other port.

11. In a container-filling machine having a container support and a nozzle arranged to enable movement of the nozzle into the container, and means for effecting movement of the nozzle into the container, a filling head having a liquid chamber, a liquid supply line in communication with said chamber, a pair of valve controlled passages for supplying liquid to the nozzle from the liquid supply line at a slow rate until the outlet is submerged and thereafter at a faster rate, a pneumatically operable cylinder and piston assembly connected to each valve for effecting its operation, a spring operating on each valve to hold it closed, said pneumatically operable cylinder and piston assemblies being operable to open the valves, pneumatic control means including conductors connected to the cylinders for supplying pressure thereto, said control means including third valve means operable to supply pressure to the cylinder of the one of the valves for supplying fiuid to the nozzle at a low rate and simultaneously supplying pressure to the means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to lower the nozzle into the chamber and fourth valve means operable to supply pressure to the cylinder of the other valve for supplying fluid to the nozzle at a faster rate, said fourth valve means being held closed as the nozzle descends toward the bottom of the container, an actuatable arm on said fourth valve means, means movable by the downward movement of the nozzle into the container to effect actuation of the arm when the nozzle reaches said predetermined distance from the bottom to effect its operation and to hold said fourth valve means open until the level of the liquid in the container rises to a predetermined level, sensing means operable when the level of the liquid reaches said predetermined level simultaneously to disable said third valve, and means for effecting withdrawal movement of the nozzle from the container to its initial position relative to the top, said arm being movable by said withdrawal movement of the nozzle to disable the fourth valve.

12. in a container-filling machine, a filling head having a liquid chamber, a liquid supply line in communication with said chamber, a pair of liquid control valves in said supply line including a slow flow valve and a rapid flow valve, a supporting tube secured to and depending from said filling head, an elongate nozzle mounted in said supporting tube, said elongate nozzle having an inlet and an outlet with the inlet in communication with said chamber, means for supporting a container having an open top with its open top in alignment with said nozzle and with the nozzle outlet within the open top at a predetermined initial position adjacent the top, means for reciprocating the nozzle in said supporting tube to lower the nozzle in the container and to return it to its initial position, means for initially opening said slow flow valve and for simultaneously effecting operation of the means for reciprocating the nozzle to lower said nozzle to a position adjacent the bottom of the container, means carried by said reciprocating means for opening said rapid flow valve as the nozzle approaches the lower end of its stroke with the outlet submerged, control means including means for sensing the height of the liquid in the container, and means responsive thereto for effecting closing of said valves and for effecting operation of said means for reciprocating the nozzle to return said nozzle to its initial position when the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the container.

13. A container-filling machine as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for effecting reciprocation of the nozzle and operation of the valves are pneumatically operated.

14. A container-filling machine as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for effecting reciprocation of the nozzle includes an elongated rod connected to the inlet end of said nozzle, said rod forming with said tube an annular space into which the liquid flows from said chamber to enter said inlet when the noule is in its lowered position, and from which the liquid remaining in said annular space and said chamber when the valves are closed is permitted to escape through the nozzle into the container during return of the nozzle to its initial posii t i I 

1. In a container-filling machine, a filling nozzle having an inlet and outlet, a liquid supply line in communication with said inlet, first and second valves in the supply line for releasing liquid to the filling nozzle at different rates, said first valve being located upstream of said second valve such that all liquid flow to the container is via said first valve, means interconnecting said first and second valves with said filling nozzle inlet so that when said second valve is closed and said first valve is open flow of liquid takes place through said first valve at a slow rate and when said second valve is open and said first valve is open the flow of liquid is at a faster rate, container supporting means for supporting a container having a top opening with the top opening in vertical alignment with the nozzle and with the outlet of the nozzle situated within the top opening at a predetermined initial position adjacent the top of the container, means for effecting movement of the nozzle into the container to establish a relation between the container supporting means and nozzle wherein the nozzle is situated in the container with the outlet at a predetermined distance from the bottom and for simultaneously opening said first valve to submerge said outlet, adjustable means operable near the termination of the movement of the nozzle to said predetermined distance from the bottom to open said second valve after the outlet is submerged to effect rapid filling of the container with a minimum of disturbance, and sensing means for closing said first valve to cut off the supply of liquid when the liquid reaches a predetermined height in the container and for effecting withdrawal of said nozzle to said initial position at the top of the container, said adjustable means being operable as withdrawal movement commences to close said second valve.
 2. A container-filling machine according to claim 1, comprising a nozzle support by means of which the nozzle is supported for movement from said position adjacent the top of the container into the container to said predetermined distance from the bottom, and wherein said adjustable means comprises relatively movable, linearly spaced parts operable by interengageMent to effect operation of said second valve, means mounting one of said parts so as to partake of the movement of the nozzle support, and means for predisposing said parts relative to each other at a predetermined spacing determinative of the position at which operative interengagement of said parts will take place.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a spring biasing said second valve to a closed position, a fluid operable motor connected to said second valve operable to open said second valve in opposition to said spring, and a valve operable to supply fluid to said motor, said adjustable means comprising a lever operable, by movement of the nozzle into the container to said predetermined distance from the bottom, to effect operation of said motor to open said second valve and by withdrawal therefrom to effect operation of said lever so as to disable said motor and allow said second valve to be closed by said spring, and a part mounted on the nozzle support and movable therewith for effecting operation of said lever, said part being adjustable relative to said lever to a predetermined initial spacing therefrom determinative of the position at which said second valve will be opened and closed.
 4. A container-filling machine according to claim 1 comprising means for adjusting the last-named means to enable opening the second valve at different levels according to the foaming characteristics of the liquid.
 5. In a container-filling machine, a filling nozzle having an outlet, means supporting a container having an open top with the open top in vertical alignment with the nozzle and with the outlet of the nozzle within the open top at an initial predetermined position adjacent the top of the container, means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle comprising a fluid motor connected to the nozzle operable to lower the nozzle into the container and withdraw it therefrom to establish a relation between the container support and nozzle such that the nozzle is situated within the container with the outlet at a predetermined distance from the bottom, first and second valve controlled passages for supplying liquid to the nozzle, respectively, at a slow rate until the outlet is submerged and thereafter at a faster rate until the container is filled to a predetermined level, said first valve being located upstream of said second valve such that all liquid flow to the container is via said first valve, a pneumatically operable cylinder and piston assembly connected to each valve for effecting its operation, a spring operating on each valve to hold it closed, said pneumatically operable cylinder and piston assemblies being operable to open said valves, fluid pressure control means including third and fourth valve means, said third valve means being operable to supply pressure to said motor to effect relative movement of the container support and nozzle such as to lower the nozzle into the container, to supply pressure to the cylinder connected to said first valve to effect opening of said first valve to in turn supply liquid to the nozzle at a slow rate, means supplying fluid pressure to said fourth valve means, said fourth valve means being operable to supply pressure to the cylinder connected to said second valve to open said second valve to in turn supply liquid to the nozzle at a higher rate, an arm operably connected to said fourth valve, means movable by downward movement of the nozzle to effect movement of the arm when the nozzle reaches said predetermined distance from the bottom to open said fourth valve and to hold said fourth valve open as the level of the liquid rises in the container, and sensing means operable when the level of the liquid reaches a predetermined height to disable said third valve, said arm being released by withdrawal of the nozzle and operable by such release to disable said fourth valve.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fluid motor comprises a cylinder and piston assembly including a piston Rod connected to the nozzle by means of which the nozzle is lowered and raised relative to the container support, wherein there is means for supplying pressure to the lower end of the cylinder for holding the piston elevated therein and hence for holding the nozzle elevated with respect to the container support, and wherein said third valve is adapted to supply pressure at a higher level to the upper end of the cylinder to lower the piston therein in opposition to the pressure supplied to the lower end.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first and second valves control passages of different diameter, the first being of smaller diameter than the second.
 8. In a container-filling machine, a filling nozzle having an inlet and outlet, valve means for supplying liquid from a source of liquid to the inlet of said nozzle, said valve means comprising an assembly embodying a chamber having an inlet port adapted to be connected to the source of liquid and an outlet port adapted to be connected to the inlet of the nozzle, and a passage intermediate said ports, said passage comprising portions of two diameters and being closed at one end and open at the other end and connected at the open end to said outlet port, the portion of the passage of smaller diameter preceding the portion of the passage of larger diameter in the direction of flow, a lateral passage connected to each of the two portions of different diameter and to the said inlet port, first and second valve means situated in said lateral passages operable to control the flow through the inlet port to the portions of smaller and larger diameter to provide for slow flow when said second valve means is closed and said first valve means is open and to provide for fast flow when both of said valve means are open, port means connecting said second valve means with said first valve means such that said second valve means is supplied with liquid via said first valve means, means for supporting a container having a top opening with the top opening in vertical alignment with the nozzle and with the outlet of the nozzle situated within the top opening at a predetermined initial position adjacent the top of the container, means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to establish a relation between the container support and nozzle wherein the nozzle is situated with the outlet at a predetermined distance from the bottom and for simultaneously opening said first valve means to commence filling the container, adjustable means operable near the termination of said relative movement at which position the nozzle outlet is submerged to open said second valve means to effect rapid filling of the container with a minimum of turbulence, and sensing means for closing said first valve means to cut off the supply of liquid when the liquid reaches a predetermined height in the container and for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to reestablish the initial position of said nozzle relative to the top of the container, said adjustable means being operable simultaneously with the initiation of said latter movement to close said second valve means.
 9. In a container-filling machine, a filling nozzle having an inlet and outlet, a liquid supply line in communication with said inlet, a valve for supplying liquid from said line to the inlet of said nozzle, said valve comprising a valve block containing an inlet chamber, a manifold chamber in the valve block, ports connecting the inlet chamber to said manifold chamber, a metering element removably mounted in the manifold chamber, said metering element containing an axial passage embodying portions of two diameters arranged with the portion of smaller diameter preceding the portion of larger diameter in the direction of flow through the valve block, said metering element containing lateral ports, one in each portion, aligned with the ports connecting the manifold chamber to the inlet chamber, first means normally closing one of said ports operAble to permit first flow through the port connecting the inlet chamber to the portion of smaller diameter for slow delivery of liquid through the valve, second means, located downstream of said first means, normally closing the other of said ports and being operable to permit flow through said other port connecting the inlet chamber to the portion of larger diameter for fast delivery of liquid through the valve, said metering element being adapted to be removed from the manifold chamber and replaced with a metering element containing passages of different diameter for providing for different rates of slow and fast delivery of liquid through the valve, container supporting means for supporting a container having a top opening with the top opening in vertical alignment with the nozzle and with the outlet of the nozzle situated within the top opening at a predetermined initial position adjacent the top of the container, means for effecting movement of said container support and nozzle relative to each other to establish a relation between said container support and nozzle wherein the nozzle is situated within the container at a predetermined distance from the bottom and for controlling the first and second means normally closing said ports to permit first flow through one port and then flow through both ports, sensing means operable by rise of the liquid in the container to a predetermined level to effect closing of said first means normally closing the slow flow port and simultaneously disabling said last-named means, and means for simultaneously effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to reestablish the initial position of the nozzle relative to the top of the container and to close said second means normally closing the fast flow port.
 10. In a container-filling machine, a container support, a filling nozzle having an inlet and outlet, a liquid supply line, valve means for controlling the flow of liquid from the supply line to the nozzle, said valve means comprising a valve block having an inlet opening in communication with said liquid supply line and an outlet opening in communication with said nozzle, a manifold chamber in the block connected to the outlet opening, a pair of ports in the block entering said manifold chamber, means connecting the ports to each other and means connecting one of said ports to the inlet opening, means normally closing each of said ports, said latter means being operable successively to open the port connected to the inlet to supply liquid to the container at a relatively slow rate and to place the ports in communication with each other, means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to move the nozzle into a container resting on the support to a predetermined distance from the bottom thereof, and for simultaneously effecting operation of said means normally closing said ports to open the port connected to the inlet, adjustable means operable by said relative movement of the container support and nozzle near the termination of said relative movement to open the other port to effect rapid filling of the container with a minimum of turbulence, sensing means for effecting closing of said port connected to the inlet to cut off the supply when the liquid reaches a predetermined height in the container and for disabling the means by means of which the nozzle was moved to said predetermined distance from the bottom, and means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to return the nozzle to its initial position relative to the top of the container and simultaneously to close the other port.
 11. In a container-filling machine having a container support and a nozzle arranged to enable movement of the nozzle into the container, and means for effecting movement of the nozzle into the container, a filling head having a liquid chamber, a liquid supply line in communication with said chamber, a pair of valve controlled passages for supplying liquid to the nozzle from the liqUid supply line at a slow rate until the outlet is submerged and thereafter at a faster rate, a pneumatically operable cylinder and piston assembly connected to each valve for effecting its operation, a spring operating on each valve to hold it closed, said pneumatically operable cylinder and piston assemblies being operable to open the valves, pneumatic control means including conductors connected to the cylinders for supplying pressure thereto, said control means including third valve means operable to supply pressure to the cylinder of the one of the valves for supplying fluid to the nozzle at a low rate and simultaneously supplying pressure to the means for effecting relative movement of the container support and nozzle to lower the nozzle into the chamber and fourth valve means operable to supply pressure to the cylinder of the other valve for supplying fluid to the nozzle at a faster rate, said fourth valve means being held closed as the nozzle descends toward the bottom of the container, an actuatable arm on said fourth valve means, means movable by the downward movement of the nozzle into the container to effect actuation of the arm when the nozzle reaches said predetermined distance from the bottom to effect its operation and to hold said fourth valve means open until the level of the liquid in the container rises to a predetermined level, sensing means operable when the level of the liquid reaches said predetermined level simultaneously to disable said third valve, and means for effecting withdrawal movement of the nozzle from the container to its initial position relative to the top, said arm being movable by said withdrawal movement of the nozzle to disable the fourth valve.
 12. In a container-filling machine, a filling head having a liquid chamber, a liquid supply line in communication with said chamber, a pair of liquid control valves in said supply line including a slow flow valve and a rapid flow valve, a supporting tube secured to and depending from said filling head, an elongate nozzle mounted in said supporting tube, said elongate nozzle having an inlet and an outlet with the inlet in communication with said chamber, means for supporting a container having an open top with its open top in alignment with said nozzle and with the nozzle outlet within the open top at a predetermined initial position adjacent the top, means for reciprocating the nozzle in said supporting tube to lower the nozzle in the container and to return it to its initial position, means for initially opening said slow flow valve and for simultaneously effecting operation of the means for reciprocating the nozzle to lower said nozzle to a position adjacent the bottom of the container, means carried by said reciprocating means for opening said rapid flow valve as the nozzle approaches the lower end of its stroke with the outlet submerged, control means including means for sensing the height of the liquid in the container, and means responsive thereto for effecting closing of said valves and for effecting operation of said means for reciprocating the nozzle to return said nozzle to its initial position when the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the container.
 13. A container-filling machine as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for effecting reciprocation of the nozzle and operation of the valves are pneumatically operated.
 14. A container-filling machine as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for effecting reciprocation of the nozzle includes an elongated rod connected to the inlet end of said nozzle, said rod forming with said tube an annular space into which the liquid flows from said chamber to enter said inlet when the nozzle is in its lowered position, and from which the liquid remaining in said annular space and said chamber when the valves are closed is permitted to escape through the nozzle into the container during return of the nozzle to its initial position. 